Well well well. Now didn't we all just think Darky was dead...... wrong again, I'm back baby. I'm not necessarily a great writer, but I love it and I'm back at it. So, let's just see if I can't carry this Redemption thing on through completion, Shall we Mr. Pinky? I thought so. What did he answer? you ask. Yes of course of course. But first the beautiful disclaimer. I don't own CRAP. Well I do own the idea anyway fir this story but that's it thanks for your cooperation. Now where were we? Ah yes,

The Redemption Chapter 5:

Remember

The troops behind the man began firing, and squall immediately ran towards them! They were shooting him, but it was as if he wasn't there. They weren't even hitting him. At close range he should have been an easy target, but he evidently wasn't because they were firing off rounds and missing with every shot. Squall eyed them carefully and noticed that there were five troops. He figured he'd dispatch them pretty easily. He drew his blade, and with one firm arc of light he slew two of them. The others panicked and ran for the door, but not before Squall placed himself between them and their exit. He sliced the first one and hit the second over the head with the handle of the mighty blade, knocking him to the floor. The last one he let go, but he yelled after him. "Tell whoever sent you that I'm coming for him, and he'd better watch his back."

"I think you'd better be watching your back Mr. Leonhart," he heard a glassy voice say from behind him. He turned around to see that same shadowy figure of a man standing before him, with an obviously shocked Seifer clutched in his grasp. The man had the cold steel blade of a knife held firmly against Seifers neck. "While you were out playing with my troops, I did a little hunting of my own, as you can see." Squall saw that the man was definitely in control of Seifer, and that he would have to choose his actions carefully. What he couldn't figure out was how did the man get from in front of him to behind him. Without him seeing it?

"Well, now," the man continued, "I guess it's time for us to have that little time of question and answer that I so love." Squall cast him a hateful glance, but knew that he'd best not push it too far right away so he said nothing. "I guess I'll start," the man said with a chuckle. "So Squall, what is it that makes you decide to rejoin with these imbeciles from Garden? You know I've been following you for a while. My master has charged me to keep an eye on you. At first I was to kill you, but then you flipped out, and left Garden to go out on your own, to seek some form of redemption for your moronic actions that led to the death of your love, um Rinoa, I believe was her name?"

Squall was enraged, he wanted to kill this man for even bringing up her name. He knew that he couldn't just come right out and go after him but there had to be something that he could do. His mind was racked but even as he sought to come up with a plan the man continued his speech.

"I've waited so long to reveal myself to you Squall. I've seen your strength grow. I've seen you increase your power. As you went through the desert, over the mountains. All the while searching for a way, a method to free yourself from the guilt the shame of what you did!" I often wished that my master had gone ahead and let me kill you long ago, but now, I'm glad he didn't. If he had, it would have been too easy. Now perhaps the you will provide me with at least some challenge. ha ha ha!"

Squall looked at Seifer, and then at the man. Finally, he spoke. So you followed me eh? well that's a pretty story you're telling and all, but honestly I think it really sucks. You see, I'm not afraid of you nor will I ever be. So how about this, if you want a fight, I'll give you one. You just let old Seifer go, and we can have it out right here right now."

"How about you let me finish!" The man replied as calmly as ever, "I followed you until you came to stop at the Coliseum. It was there that I first saw your true power. I wanted to challenge you to a battle there, to finish you off once and for all, but Master Tralen wouldn't allow it. He needed you for his plan, well, you and Sorceress Rinoa that is. But you killed her right? I don't think so. I believe that she is still alive. You see that night on the Selvary Cliffs as she held dangling over the edge clutching only your hand, I believe that she let go. Of course I can't prove that to you but that is my belief. Her, "death" would have brought about not only an end to a bloody war, but an end to Master Tralen's plan. She knew this. She knew of us, of the Sai - Dali clan, and our master Seigan Tralen. And she knew that eventually we would succeed in our plans. And most of all she knew the part the she played in those plans, and thus she let go, to take herself out of that plan."

Squall looked at him confused. "plan, what plan?" he thought. And if there was a plan, what did he or Rinoa have to do with it? He was confused, and the man was proving very confusing. "Ok so basically the point your making is that you are very boring, and long winded, right?" Squall asked him sarcastically. "And you're rubbing in my face the fact that I let Rinoa fall. Well that's just great, well I tell you what. I'm kicking your ass, and then I'll find this master whatever and kick his, how's that?" He said his anger getting the best of him.

The tall man laughed. "Ah yes I'd love to fight you right now, but alas, now is not that time. I'm here merely to get an answer to a few questions. After which you're free to go on your way, the time will come when I shall deal with you squall, but today is not that day. Simply answer me this. Did Rinoa tell you anything before she died?"

"Um let me think about it." Squall spoke angrily, nope she didn't say anything to me. Sorry chief, so is that it?"

"Um no not exactly. So anxious to end this aren't we? I'll take your word for that since it's not a very important question anyway. Now for my next question. What is it that convinced you to go back to Garden with our friend Seifer here?" With that, he threw Seifer down onto a chair where he stayed, evidently passed out.

"Oh that, well you see he came to get me, and said that Garden was under attack and that he needed my help to defend it." He lied, but didn't know how this would all relate to Rinoa being alive so he didn't want to mention the note.

"Oh really, well, it seems that garden is just fine to me, maybe you shouldn't have trusted him so easily." He said gesturing to Seifer's still body. "I don't believe you, there is more to it than that but again, that is not the important part. He said with a chuckle. But now for the truly tough stuff. You shouldn't have to think about this one very hard. "Did you loose your grip on Rinoa, or did she let go?" The man stared into his eyes probing him. Squall felt as if the man's gave would burn through him. It was strange, almost eerie how the man's stare seemed to search his very soul for the truth.

Squall thought for a moment. He'd never really gone back to put the events together. He tried now with all his might, but came to the startling conclusion that he couldn't remember. He didn't even remember her falling. He knew only that he held her one minute, and she fell the next. He searched his soul for the answer, and found one. It was the only one he knew, the only one that he could believe. Then he said it calmly and confidently and with perfect surety. "Yes, I let her go. She's dead, and it's because of me."

"The man continued to peer into his eyes searching him for the truth. Well, it seems that you truly believe that you let her go, and that she is dead, but there is something else there. I don't know what it is, but it is there. The truth is there, but you are not yet ready to find it. The time is coming for you Squall you will awaken, and I promise, that you will find the truth. Rinoa is alive Squall. I wrote the note. I want you back at Garden, because you are the one who will lead us to the Sorceress. Master Tralen believes this and has foreseen it as so. Continue on Squall, Lead me to my goal, Sorceress Rinoa Heartily."

With that the man disappeared. And Squall and Seifer were again alone in their compartment. Squall went to Seifer, and checked on him him, there was no major damage done to him, and it appeared that he had just passed out. But Squall had numerous, and strange things on his mind. But the one thing that plagued him Most way, why can't I remember what happened. He searched himself again, but it was gone, all gone. He sat down next to Seifer and laid his head back. and closed his eyes, He thought one last thing as he faded away into sleep. "Why can't I Remember".

Well there it is chapter 5 ok so it's not that good. but maybe it'll take a while to get the horse back to full power, but I hope you like it anyway. Review it, and let me know what you think, if you haven't read the rest just check out part one it's chapters one through four. Dark, out!